Grim Reaper's EulogyAnother amber ale to sample. Seems everyone has one these days. Grolsch makes theirs with malted wheat according to the side label. I have had their beer and enjoyed it, perhaps more for it's relative affordability than for taste.

Also interesting to note, I had been choosing Grolsch beer over domestic brands of lager due to the afore mentioned negligible price difference. I thought, "Why not have a beer that is imported for only $1 more per 12 pack?" Then, here's the twist; they have a partnership with AB (Bud)! Isn't that interesting? I thought so. Why would you assist an import on the shelves for only a buck more than your flagship domestic, (or is Bud now considered an import with the acquisition by InBev?) I'm soooo confused.....

So back to the amber ale...it is average compared to other amber ales on the market, but refreshing none the less. Good ale at a decent price.

Postmortem Brew ReviewRuddy amber, almost orange hue.Pleasant aroma of roasted malts & hops.Adequate, long lasting head with good lacing.Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's EulogyMmmmm, I thought as I passed the grocer's shelves looking for something different! There it was...the beer that had finally won me over with their "Brewmaster's Collection" that you've seen in my previous posts. I am a fan of 'Marzen' style Oktoberfest beers, so off to the lab to experiment.

At first blush the looks of the color and head were good indications there was another winner in the Sam Adams bunch. Upon tasting, however, I was less than thrilled. Oh, don't get me wrong. It's a fine lager worthy of purchase, but it's either my level of expectation of a Marzen style beer (oh, my favorite) and a bit of how the other Sam beers & ales had recently won me over. I give it a solid "B"...Jim, keep up the good work.

Grim Reaper's EulogyA wit-beer, or wheat beer is brewed with about 50% wheat (in the Belgian fashion) instead of the traditional barley malt. The beer will produce a cloudy pour that you think will go away, but never does. That's the released protein enzymes that embodies a wheat beer, more than those found in barley. Also, this style of wheat does not roast or 'malt' the wheat. Enough science!

The fact is, it's also brewed using lemon, lime and orange peel to give it a zesty taste. A great beer for the summer time and a sure hit with the ladies. Oh, it also has coriander inside! Very unusual beer considering AB just sold out to the Belch, er...I mean Belgians. This beer and other wheat beers are cracking into the, "...what else can we do with fruit and beer" theme. Corona used to have it all locked up with the lime slice, but these wheat beers are now adding lemon or orange slices to a pour of theirs...but not in the neck of the bottle, no! In the glass, itself. Hanging on the pint glass, deliciously stuffed into that rich, soap-like & foamy head.

Enjoy the cool half-moon orange slice dude with his "wheaty" mohawk and Ray-Ban's! Then enjoy the beer.

Restating the obvious, the review made me stop and wonder why I like this beer so much in spite of its weak standings against other beers. It bears repeating, void of it's bottle and lime slice it's like a fish out of water, it misses the essence of the what it truly is. This wee beer has the same amount of tasty refreshment as his bigger brother. But drink it in the bottle and not in a glass. Just be sure to buy yourself some miniature limes!